Herd-based Testing for the Preventive Medicine Practice

Authors

  • Garrett R. Oetzel Food Animal Production Medicine Section, Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20054816

Keywords:

metabolic, nutritional disease, herd-based data, ruminal pH, blood β-hydroxybutyrate, ketone tests, on-esterified fatty acids, blood calcium, urinary pH

Abstract

Strategies have been developed to diagnose and monitor key metabolic and nutritional diseases in dairy herds. Veterinary technicians can play a key role in gathering and managing the herd-based data needed. Tests that can be used include ruminal pH (for subacute ruminal acidosis), blood β-hydroxybutyrate (for subclinical ketosis), cowside ketone tests (for identifying individual cases of ketosis), blood non-esterified fatty acids (for evaluating energy balance on pre-fresh cows), blood calcium (for parturient hypocalcemia) and urinary pH (for monitoring acidification of pre-fresh cows to prevent hypocalcemia).

Author Biography

  • Garrett R. Oetzel, Food Animal Production Medicine Section, Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI 53706

    Associate Professor

Cover image of the 38th Conference Proceedings: A cow nuzzles her newborn calf in a stall with straw bedding. Both are content. Yellow background.

Downloads

Published

2005-09-24

Issue

2005

Section

Veterinary Technician Session